[Charithea]

For the last three years I have tried to grow Salvias from seeds because I could not find the desired ones here in Cyprus. I have had cuttings given to me by friends and kind gardeners and also brought grown plants from abroad but once in the hot Cyprus climate they shrivelled and died. This year I decided to be bold. I ordered seeds from the MGS seed bank, bought packets of seeds and asked friends to send me some. The result was that  I had pots everywhere. Keeping them moist was a task. To make sure that I would end up with some plants I also sowed seeds direct into the ground. February being so hot some of the seedling appeared after 9 days. March 1st  Salvia viridis Blue Denim, Salvia viscose S indica, S. interrupta and S nemerosa.I did not separate the seedlings but put some of them in in the ground when they were very small and then replanted then as they grew a bit bigger. I compared the ones grown in the pots and the ones in the ground. I know it is not a rigorous scientific experiment but the ones in the ground are doing much better in our hot climate. Here are some of the photos.

[Umbrian]

Well done Charithea, gardening is often about experimenting because climate and conditions vary so much it is impossible to follow rules. Keep us informed pleased!
I took a lot of cuttings from Salvias for my new garden. It is only about 8Km from my original garden in Italy but the soil is so much better, and the site more protected, that the tiny plants I put in have grown much bigger in two years than the parent plants have  -  some of which are at least 15 years old.
On the other hand a cutting from my Coronilla glauca grew away nicely but this winter looked decidedly sick and has since died. My original plant has been in flower for weeks and still going strong.....horses for courses they say.

[Charithea]

Last year I had minor success with Salvia nemerosa 'Pink Sunday'. That is they seeds grew into small plants and flowered all in a very short time and then disappeared very fast. This year among the Nigellas appeared new plants which turned out to be some of last year's seeds of the salvias. Here are the pics.

[Charithea]

As promised I am posting an update regarding my 'my non so scientific' salvia growing method. The Salvia viridis'Blue Denim' is already, showing its tufts and setting seed, and Salvia nemerosa are doing well. John and I persuaded a well know nursery to branch out and grow or bring in Salvia and to our delight they obliged us. There were a lot of Salvias in the garden centres this year all acquired from the said nursery. we bought a few and are settling down in our hot garden. I am also posting a photo of our own Salvia Indigo Spires that I clipped in the winter and it has grown back.

[Charithea]

An update about one of my favourite plants 'Salvias'. Thank you David D for the Anthony Parker cuttings. You will be pleased to see that it is thriving. I check it daily for 'enemies' such as slugs and pamper it when the weather gets very cold by bringing it in the sitting room. Since we had rain followed by sunny days, last year's salvia seedling which survived the drought, are thriving. Thank you.

[John J]

My wife's latest pride and joy, a Salvia indica grown from seed. The seeds were obtained from the MGS Seed Exchange.

[John J]

David, remember the 'Anthony Parker' cuttings you sent?

[David Dickinson]

Good to see that the "Anthony Parker" is growing. It is very easy to get A. P. cuttings to take, I find. I put them in a plastic cup with moist soil and put them in a shady spot. I don't cover them. I use transparent plastic cups (which people use in their hundreds per week at work ! Why can't they take their own glass from home? The world has gone plastic mad). Thus recycling the plastic and being able to keep a daily check on root development.

Recently I have bought a Salvia namaensis and a Salvia spathacea. The first I saw in winter in Milan and was drawn immediately by the tiny bright green leaves. It turned out on reading up about it that that is its main attraction as the flowers it produces are not that interesting. I will post some photos later. The second spreads underground and I read that it likes dappled shade. I am hoping it will cover a dappled shade are near my lemon trees. I looked at the small pot it is still in and there are four shoots pushing at the sides of the pot already so it looks promising.

All  of my other Salvias are doing well with the exception of Salvia sinaloensis which I am sure didn't survive the cold. It is herbaceous and it is late to reemerge I read. But I think that it should be sending out shoots by May and it isn't :-( It clearly was not happy with the -6°C we suffered this winter.

[Charithea]

Here are some photos of my Salvia 'Anthony Parker', my little cutting, which is now a large plant and it has flowered wonderfully.  I have noticed that  it  takes up more space and has slightly fragile branches compared to the other salvias growing in our garden.  I am also proud of the fact that I have managed to propagate some accidental cuttings. There is the photo of one of them transferred to the ground as an experiment and it is flowering. Why accidental cuttings?  We have 4 cats of our own and an every day all day visiting cat also which belongs to our neighbour opposite. They run around jump to catch insects and butterflies. Our giant cat, photo below, managed to break up the fragile branches which I have immediately potted up. All 8 cuttings are surviving. 

[David Dickinson]

Hi Charithea,

Salvia"Anthony Parker" cuttings do take very easily, don't they? I have been collecting seeds of Salvia namaensis and S. clevelandii. No idea if they will germinate but would you like some of both/either before I send them to Chantral and the seed exchange? Let me know and I will put them in with some Hibiscus trionum. Your success with Salvia seed has inspired me to try too. Thanks

[Charithea]

Hi David.  Yes please to the seeds. Caroline is also sending me Hibiscus trionum. I will put them to good use. I am always asked for rooted plants or seeds so I have several plastic pots behind the garage. I planted the stone pots around the village church with succulents which I grew from ours. We are hoping to plant the big garden behind  the
Church so cuttings and seeds are being collected.

[Charithea]

We have returned from Athens with new Salvias which  I acquired from Yannis (Ioannis) Gryllis' Nursery.  I am slightly sad that I did not have a big suitcase to transport more plants.  it was such a temptation to buy those beautiful specimens.

[Charithea]

I photographed three salvias this morning in the sunlight.  They are not mine but two  are cuttings from mine and the other is from Yiannis Grylis'.  My green fingered friend has managed to get her cuttings to flower already.  They are Salvia splendens 'Martinus Borg, Love and Wishes and S amistad .

[David Dickinson]

Charithea, how are your Salvia nemerosa doing? I have had S nemerosa 'Caradonna' for 2 years (this will be its 3rd summer) and not a flower. It was a mature plant when I bought it. Today I was in my local supermarket and they were selling roots of S nemerosa 'Schneehugel' and 'Blauhugel' at €2. 49 for a pack. Each pack contains 2 of each type of plant. At that price I couldn't resist but I fear I will be disappointed again. I wonder if it is just too hot here for what is really a cross between central European species, it seems.

[Charithea]

Hi David. I would have also bought the Salvias for that price. If you don't try you don't succeed.  Yes, my 'Caradonna' did flower. I believe I got them from Marathon. They flowered, then died down in the late Summer and re-emerged last Spring and flowered. I am hoping they will do that again this Spring. As you know some Salvias perform better then other.  I have a Salvia prantensis and it has not flowered as yet and it is its third year in the ground, also my Salvia candelabra although a big sturdy specimen refuses to flower. It has lovely fresh leaves now and I hope it will oblige me soon. Other specimens have take more than two years to reach 10cms  such as my Salvia lavandulofolia.  Of course the opposite happens too. We have Salvia Amistad and Salvia 'Love n Wishes growing in the ground and I have now spread them around the garden. But  I always take cuttings and grow them in pots just in case.... I have now identified 3 of the Salvias that arrived last October from Marathon. They are Salvia jamensis 'Blue Note' and 'Cherry Pie' the other is Bee's Bliss. Her lavender coloured flowers are overshowed by the bright colours of the other two.  The 'backbone ' of my Salvia collection are all flowering but the one that catches the eye now is the Salvia eigii. They grow as prolific as the oxalis pes-Caprae but prettier. If you don't have any growing I will pick fresh seeds in a few weeks.